Trump, Saudi Arabia, and the WWE

Earlier this week it was revealed that a journalist and US citizen has disappeared after entering the Saudi Arabian consulate in Turkey. Turkey
intelligence services have stated they have video and audio proof that this person was assassinated by the Saudi Arabian government. While politicians
in the US have been vocal over this event, the Trump administration has been fairly quiet.

Earlier this year the WWE entered in to a 10 year deal with the Saudi government that could see them earn close to half a billion dollars. The first
show that was part of this deal occurred in April. The next is scheduled in just a few weeks from now on November 2. The company is so invested in
this show that they have managed to not only retain the services of Brock Lesnar for one more match before he starts training for his fight with
Daniel Cormier, but they have also managed to get Shawn Michaels to end his retirement after eight years. Both men are rumored to be getting paid
millions of dollars for their appearances. And apparently both men were requested to appear by the same Saudi Crown Prince linked to this
assassination.

So far the WWE has made no statement on whether the show will go on. Stating that they are monitoring the situation at this time.

Now this puts Trump in a bit of an awkward situation. Obviously there's the fact that Trump is part of the WWE Hall of Fame. But it goes further than
that. The McMahons and the Trumps are extremely close friends. So much so that Trump appointed Linda McMahon (who is still co-owner of the WWE) as the
head of the Small Business Administration.

Could Trump's silence on the matter be attributed to his connection to the WWE? If sanctions are passed against Saudi Arabia, but not until after
November 2, do you think it possible that Trump did so at the behest of his friend?

I think this subplot to this developing story is worth keeping an eye on considering Trump's personal connection to the parties involved. If anything
it could show us what Trump values more, the US' interests or his friends' interests.

As a bit of a postscript I thought it's also worth mentioning that Trump isn't the only politician connected to this controversy. Newly elected mayor
of Knoxville, Glenn Jacobs, is scheduled to perform at the event in one of the marquee matches as his Kane character.

So far local Knoxville news outlets have been trying to downplay the connection. With one station already deleting an article they had published about
Jacobs' scheduled appearance.

WWE has actually gotten a lot of backlash because they claim they're in the middle of a women's revolution but none of them are allowed to perform on
the Saudi Arabia shows. To appease people they're hosting their first all-female PPV later this month.

Trump already stated that the reason he is hesitating is because of economic reasons. He mentioned that Saudi Arabia has agreed to purchase a
substantial amount of weapons from the US instead of other suppliers.

I was aware there were ties to the WWE, but I hadn't realized how much money that Saudi contract was worth. I also didn't know Kane was mayor of Knox
County... one day I might need to drive up there and meet the boy.

I'm actually surprised his campaign didn't get any acknowledgement here on ATS. He's a staunch Libertarian (he has labeled himself as a Rothbardian)
with a strong background in economics. So much so that he has actually taught college level courses on the subject.

So you are saying the entire country doesn’t deserve their dumbed down entertainment because of one alleged event? How much outrage and moral
grandstanding is appropriate here? Is thee a chart somewhere? Do we stop selling the Saudis iPhones as well? I don’t understand what you expect
to happen here.

originally posted by: Metallicus
So you are saying the entire country doesn’t deserve their dumbed down entertainment because of one alleged event? How much outrage and moral
grandstanding is appropriate here? Is thee a chart somewhere? Do we stop selling the Saudis iPhones as well? I don’t understand what you expect
to happen here.

Dont you think the outrage is at least acceptable since nothing else is being done about it?
If outrage is the only thing that comes out of it then the Saudi Devils got off easy.

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